Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

July 13, 2011

Adamawa

The Chairman of Christian CAN, Adamawa branch, Prof. Daniel Babayi has urged government at all levels to establish and empower inter- Religious councils to effectively mobilise the people on religious tolerance.

Babayi told newsmen in Yola, that the councils, to be made up of respected Christian and Muslim leaders, could tackle the problem of intolerance among their followers, particularly in identified volatile areas.

He decried the lukewarm attitude of some state governments, which did not carry along religious groups in their mobilisation programmes for peace.

Bauchi

Unknown gunmen late last Friday attacked the Alkaleri branch of Unity Bank Plc and a police station and carted away a huge sum, sources said.

Our Correspondent learnt that the gunmen had earlier made an attempt to rob a bank in Bauchi metropolis but failed.

They later broke into the bank in Alkaleri and the police station, 60km away from Bauchi town, a witness told our correspondent, adding that the robbers first attacked the police station with explosives, which released a loud sound and thick smoke.

The witness said that the robbers subsequently launched an attack on the bank while public attention was focused on happenings at the station.

Borno

The Operation Restore Order Military Task Force in Borno State on Saturday warned residents of Maiduguri against allowing their premises to be used for attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants.

The warning was contained in a statement by the Spokesman of the Task Force, Col. Victor Ebhaleme in Maiduguri.

“The Task Force has observed with dismay the unacceptable behaviour of some residents in Maiduguri, who willingly allow their surroundings or frontage of their business places to be used for nefarious activities.

“Such residents are strongly advised to desist from such acts. The Task Force will henceforth take appropriate actions to protect the public from such actions.’’

FCT

Dr. Andrew Zamani, a clinical psychologist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, has urged men to assist their expectant wives with domestic household tasks as such will reduce pregnancy complications due to stress.

Zamani told newsmen that severe stress in pregnancy and attitudes of uncaring husbands, had been shown to be contributory factors of high morbidity and mortality among women.

“Household demands and the lack of quality spousal support could also be stressful, severe stress is often associated with vulnerability to birth complications. Women who have had sustained emotional assaults or have been exposed during pregnancy to many stresses tend to have higher incidence rates of postpartium depression.

Kaduna

An Islamic cleric, Sheik Yusuf Sambo, has appealed to the Federal Government to establish a Religious Affairs Commission as a possible measure to curb incessant ethno-religious crisis bedeviling Nigeria.

He made the call during a quarterly meeting of religious leaders and traditional institutions of Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State, held in Zaria last Friday.

Sambo, who is the Chairman, Committee of Ulamas, Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a Wa’iqamatis Sunna (JIBWIS), suggested that the commission should comprise representatives of the two major religions, Islam and Christianity.

The cleric observed that when such commission was inaugurated, it would go a long way in ensuring peace and unity among the followers of the two religions.

Kwara

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has advised tertiary institutions in the country to evolve programmes that would make their graduates self-employed and employable.

The governor made the call in IIorin when the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, led a delegation to the Government House.

The governor stressed the need for universities to fashion out an entrepreneurship programme that would encourage skills acquisition in various fields.

Ahmed commended the University for sustaining its good name through good ethics and enforced standards.

He decried the rate of unemployment in the country and advocated the establishment of technical institutes all over the country to reduce the unemployment.

Katsina

The Katsina State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has resolved to hand over nine journalists to the Police for allegedly selling a bus belonging to the union.

The Council Chairman, Abdullahi Izima, said this shortly after the executive council meeting of the Union in Katsina.

He said the decision followed the resolution of the executive council after all efforts to recover the vehicle in an amicable way failed.

Izima said the journalists, who had been suspended from the union, had confessed to a probe panel that they received the bus.

“They confessed before the committee that they received the vehicle donated to the council by the ControllerGeneral of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Ande, and sold it”, he said.

He said the union initially gave the affected journalists five weeks and three days to produce the vehicle.

Lagos

A 23-year-old house boy, Oliver Togbe, was docked at an Igbosere magistrates’ Court lagos, for allegedly stealing his master’s property.

The prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, put the value of the items, allegedly stolen from Mr. Thomas Awagu, at N376,000.

Nwosu told the court that the alleged offence was committed on June 20, 2011 at No. 11 Ojomu Road, Ikoyi.

He said that the accused had access to most rooms in Mr. Awagu’s house where he allegedly stole two passports, with Nos. A02477004, A1607752, some works of art and souvenirs, valued at N376,000.

Nwosu said that the alleged offence contravened Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Mulikat Alli-Balogun granted him bail in the sum of N300,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Ogun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has solicited the support and cooperation of International donor agencies to boost free health care services in the state.

He made the call in Abeokuta while receiving delegates from Procter and Gamble (P&G) and UNICEF during their fact-finding visit to the state.

The governor was represented by a member of the Transition Committee on Health, Dr. Ajibola Amosun.

Amosun said the presence of international partners in the state had contributed immensely to the well-being of the citizenry, particularly the less privileged.

He added that their focus on tetanus elimination would fast-track the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on reducing child and maternal mortality rate.

Ondo

The national Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Ondo State has urged the State house of Assembly to collaborate with the directorate in fighting unemployment and poverty.

The NDE Coordinator in the state, Mr. Joseph Olayinka, made the call in Akure when he led a team of officials on a courtesy visit to the Speaker, Mr. Samuel Adesina.

The Coordinator said the support of the House would assist the directorate in the implementation of its employment generation programmes.

Sokoto

Sokoto State Government says it has trained about 130,000 youths in various trades under its skill acquisition programme.

Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, the Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, told our correspondent Friday in Sokoto that the government was committed to providing job opportunities to youths in the state.

He said that the beneficiaries were trained in the areas of knitting, welding, carpentry and soap making, among others.

Aliyu said they were issued with various tools for their skills, free of charge, to start their businesses.

Plateau

Chief Judge of Plateau Justice Lazarus Dakyen, has advised the state Assembly to always send laws passed by it for proof reading to check for errors.

Dakyen, who made the appeal last Friday when the Speaker, Mr. John Clark, paid him a visit, said the judiciary had the capacity to interpret such laws before they were made public.

He said as an important arm of government, a close working relationship was necessary for the optimal performance of all the branches of government.

Yobe

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has lauded the Yobe Government for engaging 20 consultants to improve health services in the state.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Abubakar Ali, had announced the engagement of the consultants from University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital last week.

The consultants are specialists in gynaecology, general surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics and radiology.

Addressing a news conference in Damaturu, Dr. Musa Baba, the Chairman of Yobe chapter of the association, said “NMA congratulates the state government for the giant stride of reaching accord with 20 consultants from UMTH to offer specialist care to patients.”

Nation

HYPREP Marks 15 Years Of UNEP Report, Highlights Major Cleanup Milestones

Published

1 week ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.

In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.

The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.

According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.

Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.

In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.

The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.

Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

2 months ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) says it has strengthened collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to enhance quality control and enforcement frameworks.

Mr Oisereime Lloyd-Dietake, the Head of Communications, REAN, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the collaboration would also involve stakeholder engagement on testing, certification and capacity building in Nigeria.

He said the synergy would strengthen quality control and enforcement frameworks, promote policy alignment, and ensure stronger regulation across the renewable energy value chain.

“REAN reaffirms its commitment to standardisation and quality assurance; tighter collaboration with SON is critical to eliminating fake and substandard renewable energy products from the Nigerian market.

“Enforcement and gaps in existing standards have continued to allow inferior products to circulate, undermining consumer confidence and slowing sector growth.”

Lloyd-Dietake said that at high-level discussions, REAN also highlighted the need for stronger regulatory coordination to address emerging challenges in the renewable energy space.

According to him, the issues include inconsistencies in standards, affordability issues linked to certification processes; and the increasing presence of substandard solar and renewable energy equipment in the country.

“The association further raised concerns about delays in product testing and approval, calling for the establishment of more testing laboratories and certification facilities to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the system,’’ he said.

Lloyd-Dietake urged closer collaboration among key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Rural Electrification Agency.

He said such team work would ensure harmonised standards and more effective enforcement against fake renewable energy products in the Nigerian market.

In response, SON acknowledged the important role REAN continued to play in supporting standardisation within Nigeria’s renewable energy industry and reaffirmed its willingness to deepen collaboration with the association.

SON further confirmed that REAN would be actively involved in future standard review processes and upcoming stakeholder engagements related to renewable energy and electric mobility standards development.

Lloyd-Dietake said REAN affirmed its willingness to formalise the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He said the MoU is aimed at deepening cooperation, promoting quality assurance, and accelerating Nigeria’s transition towards reliable and standardised renewable energy solutions.

Nation

Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

Published

2 months ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, implemented by Self Help Africa, has expanded access to safe water and sanitation services for more than 320,000 people in Kano and Cross River States.

The organisation disclosed this on Tuesday at the WS4H National Results and Learning Workshop in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed achievements and lessons from the intervention.

Speaking at the event, Self Help Africa Country Director, Joy Aderele, said the programme demonstrated that sustainable WASH improvements require strong institutions, effective governance, adequate financing and collaboration.

Aderele said the UK-funded programme was designed to strengthen systems that support sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

According to her, the intervention focused on improving governance, planning, financing, accountability and sector coordination to ensure resilient service delivery.

“More than 320,000 people now have improved or restored access to water services through programme-supported interventions,” she said.

She added that more than 5,520 household toilets were constructed in Yala and Makoda Local Government Areas, boosting sanitation, public health and efforts to end open defecation.

Aderele said the programme also strengthened public investment in WASH, with Cross River increasing its sector budget by 211 per cent in 2026 and Kano by 169.07 per cent.

She added that dedicated WASH budget lines had been established across 40 Ministries, Departments and Agencies in both states, strengthening accountability and institutional commitment.

According to her, both states reviewed and adopted updated WASH policies, while key planning documents were developed to guide future investments and service delivery.

She said Cross River also recorded a major legislative milestone through the passage of the Water Law and Open Defecation Prohibition Bill.

Aderele added that lessons from interventions in Yala LGA were already informing expansion efforts in Obubra Local Government Area.

While commending the achievements, she noted that capacity gaps, resource constraints and climate-related pressures remained challenges to sustainable WASH services.

“The sustainability of these gains will depend on continued government leadership, adequate financing, strong partnerships and investment in institutional capacity,” she said.

Also speaking, the Programme Manager of WS4H, Mr Timothy Ibeawuchi, said the intervention focused on strengthening systems needed to sustain gains and attract future investments.

According to him, the programme engages stakeholders in developing strategies that preserve achievements and support long-term service delivery.

“System strengthening work takes time because it addresses the fundamental issues responsible for sustainable and resilient service delivery,” he said.

Ibeawuchi said the programme strengthened policy development, planning, financing, monitoring and evaluation systems across the WASH sector.

He said two pilot local government areas were supported to develop WASH strategic plans outlining sector goals, targets and activities between 2026 and 2030.

According to him, the plans will guide future interventions and improve service delivery in the affected councils.

Earlier, the representative of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Chidera Chukwu, reaffirmed support for Nigeria’s development efforts in spite of the programme nearing completion.

Chukwu commended the Self Help Africa-led consortium for delivering the programme with professionalism and a strong focus on systems strengthening.

He said the consortium contributed greatly to strengthening Nigeria’s WASH sector through policy reforms, improved coordination and enhanced accountability.

“Together, we have advanced key policy and legislative reforms, including open defecation-free laws and strengthened state WASH frameworks,” he said.

According to him, the reforms represent enduring system-level changes that will continue delivering benefits beyond the programme’s lifespan.

In his remarks, Mr Jamilu Habu, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, commended the programme’s achievements.

Habu, who represented the Permanent Secretary, said the intervention strengthened governance, coordination, evidence-based planning and institutional capacity in the WASH sector.

He described the workshop as an opportunity to review achievements, share lessons and identify pathways for sustaining and scaling successful interventions.

According to him, the programme’s innovations and best practices will guide future policies and investments aimed at expanding access to safe WASH services.

Habu stressed the need for continued collaboration among governments, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities.

He said stronger partnerships remained essential to achieving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services and meeting Sustainable Development Goal 6.